Having already read Ernest, doing a second reading allows me to sit back and giggle shamelessly at the humor I read in my first reading and had already forgotten. Like looking back upon photographs of fond memories, my favorite moments seem always to be the most absurd and outlandish. What is somewhat disturbing about this play, however, is that the absurdity seems to hold some truth; That is, it merely exposes the hypocrisy and nonsense which already existed in English society.
Algernon claims that women "don't think it right" (pg 5) to marry who they flirt with, that proposals are unromantic, and that "divorces [rather than matches] are made in Heaven" (pg 4); Jack swears that he knows no one by the name of Cecily and then contradicts himself to swear that she is his dear aunt who addresses him as "uncle"; and both Jack and Algernon are "Bunburyists" (people who fabricate elaborate lies in order to gallivant around England doing whatever they please).
Though all of this seems like nonsense--and really, it is exactly that--some truth lies in the absurdity. In reality, it may not be a recognized rule that women do not flirt with those whom they intend to marry, but in general distinctions do exist between generally "fun," non-committed relationships and "serious," committed ones. And who is to say that divorces are not as fated as marriages, and cannot be "for the best," so to speak, in the long run? Jack and Algernon's lifestyle choices may not seem "normal," but in truth, it may be that most people are not "normal," and on occasion will go to ridiculous lengths to get what they want (e.g. the young lady on "Maury" who told her boyfriend she was pregnant just so that he would consider resuming the relationship).
This absurd, situational humor and ironic banter is also present in many of the television shows I enjoy (such as "Portlandia," "New Girl"(ashamedly), "Bob's Burgers," and "Parks and Recreation"). In general these programs are satires on the hipster scene, complicated friendships, family life, and work life, but in some ridiculous and round-about way, many of them reveal truths, or distort existing truths, to simply poke fun at society. Humans are far from perfect, and with literature like Wilde's and actors like Carrie Brownstein, one can begin almost to appreciate the sometimes pathetic, sometimes funny human condition which renders us all a little bit ridiculous.
Algernon claims that women "don't think it right" (pg 5) to marry who they flirt with, that proposals are unromantic, and that "divorces [rather than matches] are made in Heaven" (pg 4); Jack swears that he knows no one by the name of Cecily and then contradicts himself to swear that she is his dear aunt who addresses him as "uncle"; and both Jack and Algernon are "Bunburyists" (people who fabricate elaborate lies in order to gallivant around England doing whatever they please).
Though all of this seems like nonsense--and really, it is exactly that--some truth lies in the absurdity. In reality, it may not be a recognized rule that women do not flirt with those whom they intend to marry, but in general distinctions do exist between generally "fun," non-committed relationships and "serious," committed ones. And who is to say that divorces are not as fated as marriages, and cannot be "for the best," so to speak, in the long run? Jack and Algernon's lifestyle choices may not seem "normal," but in truth, it may be that most people are not "normal," and on occasion will go to ridiculous lengths to get what they want (e.g. the young lady on "Maury" who told her boyfriend she was pregnant just so that he would consider resuming the relationship).
This absurd, situational humor and ironic banter is also present in many of the television shows I enjoy (such as "Portlandia," "New Girl"(ashamedly), "Bob's Burgers," and "Parks and Recreation"). In general these programs are satires on the hipster scene, complicated friendships, family life, and work life, but in some ridiculous and round-about way, many of them reveal truths, or distort existing truths, to simply poke fun at society. Humans are far from perfect, and with literature like Wilde's and actors like Carrie Brownstein, one can begin almost to appreciate the sometimes pathetic, sometimes funny human condition which renders us all a little bit ridiculous.
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